Cap for liquid container

ABSTRACT

A one piece plastic cap is used with a liquid container having a neck extending to an open mouth. The cap has an annular base and an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base. The outer skirt portion and base are adapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container. A tubular portion defines a central opening in the base and extends from the base upwardly to an upper end. The tubular portion includes an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof. The lid is connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line extending around the outer perimeter of the lid. A rib pattern extends across a central portion of the lid adding strength and enhancing the even flow of plastic when forming the lid. The lid tear line is interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from the tubular portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cap use to seal the mouth of a liquidcontainer, such as a water bottle typically used in an inverted positionto supply water to a water dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known water dispensing systems often involve the use of an invertedwater bottle, positioned in a centrally located upper opening in thedispensing system. Commonly, these bottles have an upwardly extendingneck, extending to an open mouth and have a capacity of approximately 2to 5 gallons (7.8L to 18.9L). To dispense water, the bottle is invertedand the neck is inserted within the dispensing system opening. In orderto avoid spilling of water when placing the bottle in an invertedposition into the opening in the dispenser, it is well known to seal themouth of the bottle with a cap. These caps typically include an annularbase which covers the mouth and an outer skirt extending around theannular base adapted to seal the cap against the neck. An innercentrally located tubular portion defines a central recess in theannular base. The tubular portion extends upwardly into the mouth of thebottle and is covered so as to prevent leakage of water, upon inversionof the bottle. Examples of such covers are a removable plug whichsealingly covers the upper opening of the tubular portion or anintegrally formed pierceable or removable plastic lid. To enhance thepierceability of the lid, the lid may include frangible lines extendingthereacross. In known dispensing systems, a supply tube, dispensingprobe or piercing spike extends upwardly from a central position withinthe dispensing system opening and is designed to open or remove thecover of the tubular portion of the cap when the bottle is positioned inan inverted position within the dispensing system and thereby allowwater to flow into the dispensing system from the bottle. For example,in the case of an integrally formed cap having frangible lines, theprobe would engage the cap, sever the lines, thereby piercing the cap.Alternately, in the case of plug type cover, the probe may push open theplug. In each case once the cover is pierced or removed, water can flowthrough from the interior of the water bottle to the dispensing systeminto a reservoir, where water may accumulate, be cooled and/or heatedand ultimately dispensed by draining the reservoir through a faucet.Probes or piercing spikes are known to have a pointed tipped, which aidsin the piercing the lid of the tubular portion. Alternately, the probeor spike may include a smooth or rounded tip which may be utilized topierce a lid, and may also be utilized to push a plug type cover out ofengagement with the tubular portion. Such type of probe may include arecess below the tip on which the plug type cover may attach as theprobe pushes the plug type cover off the tubular portion.

Several problems may arise with the use of known caps. For example, theplug type covers may tend to disengage from the probe when urged out ofcontact with the tubular portion, and thereby enter the water bottle,float to the top of the water and create an undesirable aesthetic.Additionally, lids which are designed to be pierced by the piercingspike or probe, may have pieces thereof disengage from the tubularportion, again, causing pieces to enter the water supply. Furthermore,lids without frangible lines extending across the lid, may tend to bedifficult to pierce, thereby causing undue pressure on the cap andprobe, enhancing the possibility of leakage or breakage.

It is often desirable after consumption of water from within the bottleto remove the cap from the bottle. To assist in removal of the cap, itis known to include a tear line extending downwardly from the upper edgeof the skirt of the cap. Commonly a pull tab extends from the upper edgeof the skirt adjacent the tear line, which the user may pull down andaway from the cap along the tear line to assist with removal of the capfrom the bottle. Known pull tab and tear line arrangements do notfacilitate the easy removal of the cap from the bottle as the pull tabsmay tend to be difficult to grip and the angle of the tear line, makestearing along same somewhat difficult. There is a need for an improvedwater bottle cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention to provide an improved cap for closing aliquid container or bottle of the type typically used in an invertedposition in a liquid dispensing system, such container having a neck,extending to an open mouth on which the cap is sealingly mounted andthrough which a liquid supply probe or piercing spike may pass when thecontainer is installed onto the dispenser to cause release of the liquidfrom the container.

The cap according to the invention may be used in various liquiddispensing systems, regardless of the shape of the probe, piercing spikeor liquid supply tubes. The cap in accordance with this invention isefficient and inexpensive to fabricate.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a onepiece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neckextending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, anouter skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of thebase, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagementover the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining acentral opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to anupper end, said tubular portion positioned within the mouth, when thecap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container, said tubularportion including an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof, thelid connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line having reducedwall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid, the tearline being interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by anenhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment betweenthe lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from thetubular portion. Preferably the lid is planar, but it may be concave orconvex shaped relative to the piercing spike.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided aone piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neckextending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, anouter skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of thebase, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagementover the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining acentral opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to anupper end, said tubular portion including a lid covering the upper endthereof, the lid connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear linehaving reduced wall thickness extending around the outer perimeter ofthe lid, the lid tear line being interrupted at a portion of the lidperimeter by an enhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hingeattachment between the lid and tubular portion when the lid tear linesevered, and a rib of enhanced wall thickness extending from saidenhanced wall thickness portion across a central portion of the lid.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention there isprovided a one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container havinga neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base,an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of thebase, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagementover the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining acentral opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to anupper end, said tubular portion including a cover for the upper endthereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or selectively removable,wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wallthickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, aportion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tabdefining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitatetearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line and thus the removal ofthe cap from the container.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention there isprovided a one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container havinga neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base,an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of thebase, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagementover the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining acentral opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to anupper end, said tubular portion including a cover covering the upper endthereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or removable to allow flowof liquid from within the container out through the tubular portion,wherein the skirt of the cap includes a tear line of reduced wallthickness, extending downwardly from the upper edge of the skirt at anangle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontalplane formed by the upper edge of the skirt, the portion of the skirtabove the tear line including a pull tab bordering on the tear line tofacilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of thecap from the bottle.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following non-restrictive description of exampleembodiments of the invention, made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an example embodiment of the cap inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating an embodiment of a cap inaccordance with the invention positioned over the neck and mouth of afluid container;

FIG. 3 is a further side elevational view of an embodiment of a cap inaccordance with the invention positioned over the neck and mouth of afluid container, showing a user tearing the cap off the container;

FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of the cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the cap of FIG. 1, illustrating thepull tab with grip hole and skirt tear line;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the cap of FIG. 4, taken along line 6-6 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a section view of the cap taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 a partial side elevational view of the tubular portion and lid ofan embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial section view of a portion of the tubular portion andlid of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention,illustrating a probe prior to insertion through the tubular portion;

FIG. 10 is a partial section view of a portion of the tubular portionand lid of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention,illustrating the insertion of a probe through the tubular portion andcausing the disengagement of the lid from the tubular portion;

FIG. 11 is a partial section view of a portion of the tubular portionand lid of an embodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention,illustrating the insertion of a probe through the tubular portion withthe lid with the lid tear line completely severed and the lid attachedto tubular portion by the enhanced thickness portion;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view illustrating a second exampleembodiment of a cap in accordance with the invention positioned over theneck and mouth of a fluid container;

FIG. 13 is perspective view of the second example embodiment of the capin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 14 is a further side elevational view of the second embodiment of acap in accordance with the invention positioned over the neck and mouthof a fluid container, showing a user tearing the cap off the container;and

FIGS. 12A, 13A and 14A are views of an embodiment of the capcorresponding to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 respectively which illustrate a caphaving an arc shaped skirt tear line;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are side elevational views of a further embodiment ofthe cap on a bottle in accordance with the invention.

Similar reference numerals are used in different figures to denotesimilar components.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 is an example embodiment of a one piece plasticcap 10, used with a liquid container 12 having a neck 14 extending to anopen mouth 16. The liquid container shown is a common plastic waterbottle having an 18.9L capacity, although it should be understood thatthe cap may adapted for utilization with bottles of various sizes andshapes. The cap 10 comprises an annular base 18, an outer skirt portion20 which extends upwardly from an outer periphery of the base 18. As canbe seen best in FIG. 2, the outer skirt portion 20 and base 18 areadapted for sealing engagement over the neck and mouth 16 of thecontainer 12. A tubular portion 22 defines a central opening 23 in thebase 18 and extends from the base upwardly to an upper end 24. When thecap is positioned over the mouth and neck of the container, the tubularportion 22 extends within the mouth 16 of the container. The tubularportion 18 includes a lid 26, which is preferably inclined, covering theupper end thereof 24. Preferably the lid is planar, as shown, but may beconvex or concave shaped relative to the piercing spike. The lid 26 isconnected to the tubular portion 22 by a lid tear line 28 having reducedwall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid 26. Thelid tear line 28 is interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid byan enhanced wall thickness portion 30. As can be seen best in FIGS. 9 to11, the enhanced wall thickness portion 30 forms a hinge attachmentbetween the lid 26 and tubular portion 18 when the lid tear line 28 issevered and the lid 26 is urged upwardly from the tubular portion 22 bya probe 32 (which also may be referred to as a liquid supply tube orpiercing spike or the like).

The embodiment of the one piece cap 10 shown in the drawings is designedso as to be utilized with a container 12, such as a water bottle whichmay installed in an inverted position in a commonly known liquiddispenser system (not shown). In such known systems, the container neck14 and mouth with cap 10 attached thereover, projects downwardly througha central opening defined in the liquid dispenser, and the liquiddispenser includes a liquid supply tube, probe or piercing spike (suchas reference number 32) or the like, extending upwardly from saiddispenser, positioned to enter the tubular portion 22 of the cap whensaid inverted container is positioned within said central opening. Ascan be seen in FIGS. 9 to 11, such tubes, probes or spikes 32 willengage and push the lid 26 upwardly causing tearing of the lid tear line28 and the lid to open thereby allowing liquid to flow into thedispenser, the lid 18 maintaining hinged engagement with the tubularportion 22 at the enhanced thickness portion 30.

In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the cap lid 26 includes a ribpattern 34 extending across a central portion 36 of the lid. The ribpattern 34 is preferably connected to the enhanced wall thicknessportion 30 and may include a cross pattern, the cross being at theapproximate center of the lid. During forming of the cap, which may beby injection molding or any other suitable manner, the presence of therib pattern 34 on the lid 26 enhances the spreading of materials evenlyon the lid, allowing for the provision of an evenly formed lid ofsufficient thickness and a lid tear line 28 of sufficient relativethinness to facilitate tearing thereof upon engagement and urging of theprobe 32.

Although the probe (also referred to as supply tube or piercing spike)shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is illustrated having a smooth tip, it should beunderstood that it may include a pointed tip. The rib pattern 34 assistsin the prevention of the probe, whether it be smooth tipped or pointedtipped from piercing the lid 26, and instead causes the lid tear line 28to sever when the probe urging the lid.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the inclined lid 26 extends atan angle of approximately 20° to a horizontal plane across the upper end24 of the tubular portion. It should be understood that this angle mayincreased or decreased, if desired. As mentioned above, the lid may beconcave or convex shaped relative to the piercing spike.

The lid has a preferred thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm, theenhance wall thickness portion has a preferred thickness at least asgreat as that of the lid, but certainly greater than that of the lidtear line. The enhanced wall thickness portion has a width, extendingaround the perimeter of the lid of approximately 2 to 3 mm. The tearline around the lid, may be a continuous line of reduced thickness ormay comprise an interrupted type line comprised of a plurality ofclosely spaced reduced thickness lines, extending around the perimeterof the lid.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 6, 7 9, 10, 11 and 13, the cap may include aresilient sealing ring 38 positioned against the annular base of the capbetween the tubular portion 22 and skirt 20, disposed between the base18 of the cap and the container when the cap is positioned over themouth and neck of the container so as to enhance the seal therebetween.The sealing ring may be comprised of polyurethane foam, polystyrene,polypropylene or other suitable resilient material, such as rubber orthe like. The sealing ring has a preferred thickness of 1.5 mm.

The skirt portion 20 of the cap includes a bead including an inwardlydisposed annular flange 40 spaced above the base 18 and sealing ring 38.The inwardly disposed flange 40 aids in keeping the sealing ring withinthe cap and provides added strength to the skirt.

To facilitate removal of the cap from the bottle, the skirt of the capincludes a skirt tear line 42 comprising a groove having reduced wallthickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge 44 of the skirt. Thetear line may be a continuous line of reduced wall thickness, as shown,or it may comprise a plurality of closely spaced reduced wall thicknesslines, extending in a row. A portion of the skirt above the skirt tearline includes pull tab 46 or 50, which may be a ring shaped pull tab 46defining a grip hole therein (as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 6) borderingon the tear line so as to facilitate tearing of the skirt along the tearline by pulling the pull tab downwardly and outwardly from the centre ofthe cap. Preferably, the grip hole is sized to accept a human fingerwhich improves the ease by which the pull tab may be pulled to tear thetear line. An alternate type of pull tab 50 is illustrated in FIGS. 12to 14, wherein the pull tab extends above the upper edge 44 of the skirtand includes enhanced thickness lines 52 to improve the gripping of thetab when pulling same. Preferably these thickness lines 52 form apattern of horizontal and/or vertical lines, although any patterns oflines may be utilized. To enhance strength of the skirt and to ensuretearing occurs along the tear line when pulling the pull tab, enhancedthickness blocks 43 may be positioned along the skirt tear line. Theseblocks 43 are preferably spaced from one another as they extend alongthe tear line.

To improve the ease of tearing the skirt tear line 42, in the exampleembodiments of the cap shown, the skirt tear line 42 extends downwardlyat an angle of no greater than 40 degrees below a horizontal plane. Thetear line extends around at least half of the circumference of the cap.Having a reduced angle of descent of the skirt tear line 42 relative tothe angle of descent observed in known caps, increases the ease by whichthe skirt tear line may be torn and thus the cap removed. The skirt tearline 42 in the example embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 11, and 12 to 14 mayalternately be downwardly arced shaped (such as shown in FIGS. 12A, 13Aand 14A). The skirt tear line extends downwardly until it approaches theannular bead 40, at which point it continues to run parallel to the beadas it extends around the skirt 20 of the cap 10. As the skirt tear line42 is severed, the cap may be pulled off the bottle.

It should be understood that in another example of the cap in accordancewith the herein invention, the cap 10 comprises an annular base 18, anouter skirt portion 20 extending upwardly from an outer periphery of thebase, with the outer skirt portion 20 and base 18 adapted for sealingengagement over the neck 14 and mouth 16 of the container 12, a tubularportion 22 defining a central opening 23 in the base and extending fromthe base upwardly to an upper end 24. The tubular portion includes acover for the upper end thereof, such as lid 26. However in thisexample, the cover may be any suitable type of cover which may be eitherpierceable, openable or selectively removable and the skirt of the capincludes a skirt tear line 42 of reduced wall thickness, extendingdownwardly from an upper edge of the skirt 44, a portion of the skirtabove the skirt tear line including a pull tab 46 defining a grip hole48 therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitate tearing of theskirt along the skirt tear line and thus the removal of the cap from thecontainer.

In a further example of the cap in accordance with an aspect of theinvention, a one piece plastic cap 10 for use with a liquid container 12having a neck extending to an open mouth 16, said cap comprising anannular base 18, an outer skirt portion 20 extending upwardly from anouter periphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adaptedfor sealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, atubular portion 22 defining a central opening in the base and extendingfrom the base upwardly to an upper end 24, said tubular portionincluding a cover covering the upper end thereof, the cover beingpierceable, openable or removable to allow flow of water from within thecontainer out through the tubular portion, wherein the skirt of the capincludes a skirt tear line 42 of reduced wall thickness, extendingdownwardly from the upper edge 44 of the skirt at an angle of no greaterthan 40 degrees below a horizontal plane formed by the upper edge of theskirt, the portion of the skirt above the tear line including a pull tabbordering on the skirt tear line to facilitate tearing of the skirtalong the skirt tear line and removal of the cap from the bottle.Although this example embodiment illustrates a skirt tear line of nogreater than 40 degrees, it should understood that in certainembodiments of the cap, the angle of the skirt tear line may be reducedto as low as 20 degrees or raised as high as 80 degrees. An example of aseverely reduced tear line angle, is illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16.

The cap is preferably made from plastic, such as polyethylenes orpolypropylenes. However, any plastic or other material with similarcharacteristics could be used.

The tear lines referred to above may be formed of a continuous groove ofreduced wall thickness, as shown, or it may comprise a plurality ofclosely spaced reduced wall thickness lines, extending in a row (i.e.segmented).

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended tobe examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may beeffected to the particular embodiments by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined bythe claims appended hereto.

1. A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neckextending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, anouter skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of thebase, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagementover the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining acentral opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to anupper end, said tubular portion positioned within the mouth, when thecap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container, said tubularportion including an inclined lid covering the upper end thereof, thelid connected to the tubular portion by a lid tear line having reducedwall thickness extending around the outer perimeter of the lid, the tearline being interrupted at the upper most portion of the lid by anenhanced wall thickness portion which forms a hinge attachment betweenthe lid and tubular portion when the lid tear line is severed from thetubular portion.
 2. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein whensaid cap is positioned over the neck and mouth of the container saidtubular portion extends within the mouth and said container is installedin an inverted position in a liquid dispenser with the container neckprojecting downwardly through a central opening defined in said liquiddispenser, said liquid dispenser including a probe, extending upwardlyfrom said dispenser, positioned to enter the tubular portion of the capwhen said inverted container is positioned within said central opening,and to push the lid upwardly causing tearing of the lid tear line andthe lid to open thereby allowing liquid to flow into the dispenser, thelid maintaining hinged engagement with the tubular portion at theenhanced thickness portion.
 3. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1wherein the lid includes a rib pattern extending across a centralportion of the lid.
 4. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid rib pattern is connected to the enhanced wall thickness portion. 5.The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein the rib pattern is across pattern, the centre of the cross being at the approximate centerof the lid.
 6. The one piece cap as recited in claim 1 wherein theinclined lid extends at an angle of approximately 20° to a horizontalplane across the top of the tubular portion.
 7. The one piece cap asrecited in claim 1 wherein said enhanced wall thickness portion has athickness greater than that of the lid.
 8. The cap as recited in claim 2further comprising a resilient sealing ring positioned against theannular base of the cap between the tubular portion and skirt, disposedbetween the base of the cap and the container when the cap is positionedover the neck and mouth of the container so as to enhance the sealtherebetween.
 9. The cap as recited in claim 8 wherein the skirt portionincludes an annular bead having an inwardly disposed portion, spacedabove the base and sealing ring.
 10. The cap as recited in claim 1wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wallthickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, aportion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a ring shapedpull tab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line so asto facilitate tearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line by pullingthe pull tab in the direction of the skirt tear line.
 11. The cap asrecited in claim 10 wherein the grip hole is sized to accept a humanfinger to facilitate pulling of the pull tab to tear the skirt tearline.
 12. The cap as recited in claim 10 wherein the skirt tear lineextends downwardly at an angle of no greater than approximately 40degrees below a horizontal plane.
 13. The cap as recited in claim 12,wherein the skirt tear line is downwardly arc shaped and extends aroundmore than half of the circumference of the skirt.
 14. The cap as recitedin claim 1 wherein the skirt portion includes an inwardly disposedannular flange extending around the circumference thereof, spaced abovethe base, and wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line ofreduced wall thickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of theskirt, a portion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pulltab defining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line tofacilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of thecap from the bottle, the tear line extending downwardly at an angle ofno greater than approximately 40 degrees from the horizontal until itapproaches the annular ring and then extends parallel and above theannular ring around a portion of the circumference of the skirt.
 15. Aone piece plastic cap for use with a liquid container having a neckextending to an open mouth, said cap comprising an annular base, anouter skirt portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of thebase, said outer skirt portion and base adapted for sealing engagementover the neck and mouth of the container, a tubular portion defining acentral opening in the base and extending from the base upwardly to anupper end, said tubular portion including a cover for the upper endthereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or selectively removable,wherein the skirt of the cap includes a skirt tear line of reduced wallthickness, extending downwardly from an upper edge of the skirt, aportion of the skirt above the skirt tear line including a pull tabdefining a grip hole therein, bordering on the tear line to facilitatetearing of the skirt along the skirt tear line and thus the removal ofthe cap from the container.
 16. The cap as recited in claim 15 whereinthe grip hole is sized to accept a human finger.
 17. The cap as recitedin claim 15 wherein the skirt tear line extends downwardly at an angleof no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontal plane.18. The cap as recited in claim 17 wherein the skirt tear line isdownwardly arc shaped.
 19. The cap as recited in claim 15 furthercomprising a resilient sealing ring positioned against the annular baseof the cap between the tubular portion and skirt, disposed between thebase of the cap and the container when the cap is positioned over theneck and mouth of the container so as to enhance the seal therebetween.20. The cap as recited in claim 19 wherein the skirt portion includes anannular bead including an inwardly disposed portion, spaced above thebase and sealing ring.
 21. A one piece plastic cap for use with a liquidcontainer having a neck extending to an open mouth, said cap comprisingan annular base, an outer skirt portion extending upwardly from an outerperiphery of the base, said outer skirt portion and base adapted forsealing engagement over the neck and mouth of the container, a tubularportion defining a central opening in the base and extending from thebase upwardly to an upper end, said tubular portion extending within themouth of the container and including a cover covering the upper endthereof, the cover being pierceable, openable or removable to allow flowof liquid from within the container out through the tubular portion,wherein the skirt of the cap includes a tear line of reduced wallthickness, extending downwardly from the upper edge of the skirt at anangle of no greater than approximately 40 degrees below a horizontalplane formed by the upper edge of the skirt, the portion of the skirtabove the tear line including a pull tab bordering on the tear line tofacilitate tearing of the skirt along the tear line and removal of thecap from the bottle.
 22. The cap as recited in claim 21 wherein the pulltab extends above the upper edge of the skirt and includes enhancedthickness lines to improve the gripping of the tab when pulling same.23. The cap as recited in claim 22 wherein the thickness lines form apattern of horizontal and vertical lines.
 24. The cap as recited inclaim 21 wherein, when the cap is positioned over said neck and mouth insealing engagement therewith, the tubular portion extends within themouth.
 25. The cap as recited in claim 10 wherein said skirt tear lineincludes a plurality of closely spaced reduced thickness segments. 26.The cap as recited in claim 10 wherein the skirt tear line is acontinuous line of reduced wall thickness.
 27. The cap as recited inclaim 1 wherein said lid is planar.
 28. The cap as recited in claim 15wherein said lid is planar.